A podiatrist and two professional golfers share the best shoes to wear on the course.
May 13, 2024, 5:16 PM EDT
By Emma Stessman
Whether you’re someone who occasionally hits the links or you’re on the green almost every day, having the right gear can help improve your golf game. And that starts with your footwear.
“Good golf shoes provide a firm foundation for golfers, helping them to stand supportively while they swing their clubs,” shares Dr. Bruce Pinker, a podiatrist in New York City. “Good golf shoes provide stability so golfers can play without distraction.”
Given that, we spoke with Dr. Pinker along with two professional golfers about what you should be looking for — and the pairs that they love.
Do golf shoes really make a difference?
To kick things off, let us answer the big question on everyone’s minds: Do you really need golf-specific shoes to play? According to Morgan Wright, PGA director of instruction at the Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco, you actually don’t.
“In perfect, dry, grass-covered, flat-ish turf conditions one can play golf in just about any flat-soled ‘tennis’ type of shoe. The old days of metal spikes on hard-soled leather ‘dress’ type of shoes is pretty much gone,” he shares.
That being said, there are still some features that you want to look out for in any shoe that you’re playing in.
What to look for in a golf shoe
“As an instructor, I am always looking for something that will provide the greatest stability,” shares Lauren Kegarise, PGA head professional at Fishers Island Club in New York. “Since the golf swing is powered by the ground, it is imperative that we have the greatest support in the shoes that we wear.”
According to Pinker, some features to look for include a grippy outsole, firm heel counter, stable base and a waterproof design (to help protect your shoes from early morning dew on the course). “Durable uppers [are] an important feature in golf shoes to withstand different types of climate.”
Kegarise says you should avoid a shoe with too high of a sole. “Some shoes these days say they provide comfort by having an extra cushioned heel, but these shoes distribute weight more towards the toes and can throw the swing off balance. I try to get my students in something with a wide toe box and an even heel height throughout.”
Another thing to consider? The materials that the shoes are made with — and whether or not they’re sustainable. “Since most of us no longer use the older, heavier, leather hard-soled dress shoe styles, which might last someone over 20 years of use, we now have a throw-away shoe that often ends up in landfills,” shares Wright. That’s why he likes brands and shoes that factor sustainability into their production processes.
Do you need golf shoes with spikes?
While spikeless shoes used to be the standard in golf, lately a number of people have been moving away from them. “Most people like the lighter ‘sneaker’ type of shoes these days,” shares Wright.
In fact, Wright says that he prefers spikeless soles over soft spike shoes “for all but the wettest conditions.”
“Spikeless shoes can be worn anywhere, are the most comfortable and studies have also shown no measurable difference in traction for most turf conditions,” he says.
Here, we asked the experts to share some of their favorite golf shoes — and we combed through reviews to find some of the top-rated options shoppers are loving, too.
Meet our experts
- Dr. Bruce Pinker, DPM, is a podiatrist at Progressive Foot Care in New York City and White Plains, New York. He is a teaching faculty member of the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center Podiatric Surgical Residency Program in Brooklyn, NY and an associate member of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons.
- Morgan Wright is the director of instruction at the Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco. He is a PGA Class “A” Member with over 18 years of teaching experience at the Presidio Golf Course.
- Lauren Kegarise is a head golf professional at Fishers Island Club in Fishers Island, New York.
